Introduction
The Town of Highlands takes pride in its unique and high-quality business community. New businesses are encouraged to be good neighbors, maintain a visually appealing appearance, and take advantage of the many social and cultural opportunities available in the community.
The purpose of this page is to provide brief information about licenses, utilities, and zoning regulations that affect new businesses in Highlands.
For more information, please call or visit
Town Hall
210 N 4th Street
(828) 526-2118
Working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Zoning
The Town of Highlands enforces a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that regulates commercial design, land uses, and various activities. Both the UDO and the Zoning Map can be accessed online, and hard copies are available at Town Hall. Before opening a new business, we recommend consulting with the Town's Planning and Development Director to determine which land uses are permitted in your zoning district. Generally, if you are opening a new business in a building that was previously occupied by a similar type of business, you should not encounter zoning issues. However, if you plan to change to a completely different use, it could present a problem. For instance, the new use may not be allowed in that zoning district.
Changing a building to a "higher intensity" use, such as converting from office space to retail or from retail to a restaurant, may require additional considerations. This may include the need for extra parking, public restrooms, or enhanced accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, it may result in an increased sewer connection fee. Regardless of whether you are a new or existing business owner, you must obtain a Zoning Certificate from the Town of Highlands Planning & Development Office before remodeling your building. Depending on the scope of your work, you may also be required to secure a Building Permit from the Macon County Planning, Permitting, and Development Office. Certain uses, such as restaurants located in existing buildings, require a Special Use Permit from the Zoning Board, in addition to obtaining a Zoning Certificate and a Building Permit.
For more information, please contact the Town of Highlands Planning & Development Office.
Signs
The Town of Highlands is located in a unique mountain and natural scenic setting. It serves as a gateway to a mountain recreational area. The visual beauty of the mountains is a major factor in attracting vacationers, summer residents, and new residents to the area. It is, therefore, the desire and purpose of the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Highlands:
A. To regulate signs and outdoor advertising throughout the zoning jurisdiction of the Town of Highlands;
B. To limit the size, height, and location of signs and outdoor advertising erected therein;
C. To eliminate hazards to pedestrians and motorists brought about by distracting sign displays;
D. To ensure orderly development; and thereby to protect and stabilize property values;
E. To preserve the scenic natural environment by allowing signs that are consistent with an attractive Town appearance;
F. To promote public health, prosperity, safety, and welfare; and
G. To establish procedures through which these purposes can be fulfilled.
New businesses are encouraged to contact the Planning and Development Office regarding a Sign Application before their signs are made, to avoid costly mistakes.
Business Licenses
A Business License is only required for businesses that sell or serve alcohol or provide taxi services.
For more information, please contact Town Hall.
Utilities
The Town provides electric, water, and garbage service, plus sewer service for most of the downtown business district. New businesses are required to sign a contract for utility service, and new rental accounts are required to post a $300.00 deposit. For information about rates, please contact Town Hall. Minimum charges are in effect throughout the year, even if there is no usage. Many commercial businesses are also equipped with "demand" electric meters, which record peak power demand in any given month over a period of time; utility bills may thus reflect this charge during winter months even if little or no power is used. Utilities are billed in monthly cycles, and are due within 21 days of the billing date; otherwise, late penalties are automatically applied.
For businesses in new buildings, water and sewer connection fees are also required. For some uses, such as restaurants and motels, these fees may be substantial.
Garbage is generally collected every day in the business district. Businesses should inquire where to place their garbage for pickup when they sign up for utility service.
For more information on recycling and cardboard collection, contact Town Hall.
Additional Information
Highlands is governed by a Mayor and a Board of Commissioners, which meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Community Building, located at 869 N 4th Street, Highlands, NC 28741. All meetings are open to the public and live streamed on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@townofhighlandsboardofcomm2380). A copy of the agenda can be found on the Town Website.
Public restrooms are located at the Kelsey Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street and the Town Square Shopping Center on Main Street. Owners of businesses and their employees are prohibited from Parking in public parking places in certain areas of the Town. The Downtown Business District Parking Map is available on the Town Website.
For more information, please contact Town Hall.
Town of Highlands | 828.526.2118
Fax | 828.526.2595